Where to locate a new Atlanta boutique guitar/gear store?

[levous]

A local cat is working to add a really special gear store to the scene. I am not at liberty to divulge details but I can tell you he's working on finding a good in-town locatio. I believe he will do well for himself by doing right for our local community of gear addicts.

We have one teeny, tiny store in the Virginia Highlands (BGE) tucked in an alley behind a retail strip. Other than that, you have to travel to north Atlanta to find anything. Earth Shaking is in little five but its not really a high end shop.

Where would you like a new store? There's nothing in midtown, anywhere. Even the now closed Midtown Music wasn't in Midtown. Many, many years ago, we had Clark Music on Ponce. That was freakin awesome. There is nothing on west side at all. Nothing near grant park. Its a big city to have so much nothing!

thoughts?

Keep in mind, rent has to be reasonable and safety is a factor. Obviously, there needs to be ample parking.

 

[magnus02]

Well, I think bge proved that the highlands area can't support a bigger store bc it was larger before they downsized...

I think you almost have to look north bc that's where the customers with money are. Or be right off the freeway like guitar center is.

If I had to pick a location I'd say.... West Atlanta maybe? Or off peachtree??

It's a shame the hipsters in east Atlanta don't have money bc there are plenty of musicians over there...

Atlanta as you know is tricky... Not sure where the ideal location is...

 

[gregsguitars]

Way up north....

 

[SMark]

I would consider North Fulton or the west half of Gwinnett. Maybe even NE DeKalb, but I tend to avoid DeKalb for the most part these daze...

20 years ago I was all over downtown Atlanta. Now, except for a concert or gig now and again, I mostly avoid it.

 

[Rockerduck]

Cherokee county. Anywhere around Townlake Mall. To be honest, I drive all over to check stores. I will not go downtown. Elijay is a growing town too.

 

[jetydosa]

Mall of GA area is really doing well. Lots of retail space avail.

There are probably more people in North Cobb/Cherokee, Alpharetta/ North Gwinnett area than downtown metro area easily. Cheaper rent too.

I say bring it on! We need like a Superstore in Atlanta along the lines of a Wildwood/Willcutts/Wildwest/Daves.

 

[soli528]

Earthshaking is in East ATL rather than L5P, but you're right, neither of those are the neighborhoods to support the high dolla boutique stuff. I'm going to say Sandy Springs/Roswell Rd./north Buckhead or West Marietta district if you want closer to town. I also agree that you may as well be looking at Alpharetta if you're really looking for the clientele with that kind of budget. I wish I could say Decatur, we've got great restaurants and even some high end retail (like cooking stores, etc...) but Midtown Music couldn't last in the area (they actually had a terrible location, to be fair), and Firehouse guitars seems to barely stay afloat selling the common brands.

 

[Ben Sp]

Wish Athens was an option cause it's just pathetic out here music store-wise for being such a "mecca". We don't even have a store with used gear to speak of

 

[The Other JC]

Mall of GA area is really doing well. Lots of retail space avail.

There are probably more people in North Cobb/Cherokee, Alpharetta/ North Gwinnett area than downtown metro area easily. Cheaper rent too.

I say bring it on! We need like a Superstore in Atlanta along the lines of a Wildwood/Willcutts/Wildwest/Daves.

+1 on Mall of GA area. It's just off of I-85 and I-985, and it's on SR-20 around 10 minutes from SR-400. I don't know how Gwinnett doesn't have a decent guitar shop. As far as crime rates go, it's a safe area.

 

[cherrick]

Far West: Texas.

 

[Aardvark]

I say north side of town too, although you already have AMB in Roswell. For that reason, I would target somewhere between Sandy Springs/Roswell and Buckhead. The rent will be higher, but hopefully the sales also. Now, if this is a proposed enterprise on the part of a really fine jazz/shredder guy, I understand he prefers setting up shop downtown.

 

[daddyagogo]

I want to echo Soli528's suggestion of Sandy Springs/Roswell Rd./north Buckhead, largely because it would be close to where I live. But that aside, I'd drive almost anywhere in town to check out the right store once a month. But since Midtown Music has closed there ain't nothing here as you know. I would not recommend the outer reaches of any of the 5 counties. What we really lack here is a great place to check out and sell decent to better used gear. I really miss that. How about Cambridge Park Shopping center at Johnson Ferry & Ashford Dunwoody. A busy area and inside the Perimeter but also easy to get to from outside the Perimeter. (and no I don't live near there.)